Elegantly perfumed with fresh citrus flavours of lime zest and mandarin with white peach. The palate displays mouth-watering acidity and a delightful texture and great length.

While most UK estates look to Reims and Epernay for inspiration, scaling their activities and ambitions to compete with the vast brands of the Marne, the focus at Danbury Ridge is directed toward grower Champagnes and the small domaines of Burgundy.

Now, just a few vintages into the project, and that early aspiration is being realised: Danbury Ridge is bottling wines that critics have already favourably compared to some of the finest addresses in Burgundy, Oregon and cool climate, New Zealand.

The first vines were planted in 2014 with an unwavering focus on still Pinot Noir and Chardonnay clones to exploit the unique mesoclimate. After just a few seasons the vines were producing grapes of a ripeness previously unseen in the UK.

A classic white wine grape variety grown and loved the world over. Danbury Wine Estate cultivates six different Chardonnay clones for use in both still and sparkling wines. Wine made exclusively from Danbury Wine Estate grapes became the first ever English Chardonnay to win a Gold medal at the International Wine Challenge.

"Full fluted bottle all of 1,568 g though I have been assured it's made of recycled glass. Most bottles are made partly of recycled glass; I wonder what the proportion is here. Fruit from the estate's Sleipnir Block, as well as two other Crouch Valley vineyards, after a cold summer so sugar levels were lower than usual despite a kind September and October. Juice transferred immediately with full solids to the pièces in which the wine was aged on gross lees for 12 months. Stirred once as the wine was transferred to tank for a further six months on gross lees. pH 3.15. TA 7.1 g/l.
Pale straw. The nose is very convincingly burgundian – truly savoury and like a ripe St-Aubin with a hint of struck match (avoid this if you hate this character). The PYCM (Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey) of England? Real lift and convincing fruit on the palate. Drier and more sophisticated than the 2020. Very vibrant. Should have a rather glorious future. Quite long. Drink to 2030."
17 points.
Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com (October 2023)